Coupling for cords or ropes.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

J. P. TOLMAN. GOUPLING FOR GORDS 0R ROPES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.15, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

JAMES P. TOLIWIAN, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SAMSON CORDAGE VVORKS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

`couptlne FOR conos R noms.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 723,339, dated March 24, 1903.

Application tiled October 15, 190.2. Serial No. 127,334. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Referring tothe drawings, A represents an Beitknown thatI, JAMES P. TOLMAN,aciti end of a piece of cord or rope, and A reprezen of the United States, anda resident of sents the other end of the same piece or the Newton, in thecounty of MiddleseXand State end of another piece. Each end is bound by of Massachusetts, have invented a new and or inclosed in a metal sleeve or fcrrule B, 55

useful Improvement in Couplings for Cords which fits closely -upon it. y or Ropes, of which the following is a full,` Cis the coupling, composed of the member clear, and exact description, reference being C" and the member C5 Each member is cyllad to the accompanying drawings, forming lindrical in form, having its outer end round- 1o a part of this specification, in explaining its ed and provided with a hole c', extending from 6o the chamber c2. Each member also has eX- Theinvention relates to acoupling for contending from its end c3 an interior screwnecting the ends of cords and ropes. It is thread c4. The plug D has an exterior thread adapted especially'for use in connection with which screws upon the interior screw-thread cords and'ropes used for the transmission of of both members, the plug forming a rigid 65 power; but I do not confine myself to suchl means of uniting the two members together use. Its construction is such that it does not with their ends c3 in contact with each other materially increase the diameter-of the cord and with the cylindrical sections of the memor rope of which it forms a connecting part bers in line with each other. The plug is prozo and does not materially decrease its fieldvided with slots at either end to facilitate'its 7o bility, the coupling being constructed in such being driven bya screw-driver or like means, a manner as to possess in and of itself a unias occasion may require. The plug is removversal iexibilitycr power to conform to the able from the members to permit the screw- Various curvatures of a cord or rope in, for ing of their attaching-screws E into the ends instance, passing over pulleys. Y of the cord or rope to which they are secured. 75

It comprises two cylindrical sections, prac- These screws are alike. Each has a head e, tically counterparts, adapted to be united toheld in the chamber cgof its member and havgether by a plug and each of which has at its ing the hemispherical back e', which in conend a cavi-ty surrounding a central hole, the junction with the inner surface of the part of 3o cavity being adapted to receive the head of the member surrounding the hole c forms, in 8o Aa fastening-screw of peculiar construction, effect, a ball-joint, the hemispherical back which secures its section of the coupling to swingingin every direction from such surface. the end of Vthe cord,` and the hole being of The screw alsohas aneck e2 adjacent to the such size compared with the neck of the screw head, which is considerably smaller than the as to permit the screw to be turned or swung hole c', through which it passes, and also con- 85 with its head for a center and with respect siderably smaller' than the thread e3 of the to the couplingand in any direction. Each screw, which begins at the end of the neck of the fastening-screws is adapted toscrew and which ends ina gimlet-point e4. The into the end of a rope or cord, which is prethread is quite thick at its base e5, thereby 4o vented from spreading by means of metal presenting a blunt facing, but with a relaoo sleeves or ferru1es.` A tively sharp biting edge e6, and is separated I will now describe the invention more in by a considerable space c7 for the purpose of detail in connection with the drawings formpermitting it to be screwed into the end of ing a part of the specification, whereinthe cord or rope within'the metal sleeve B to Figure l is a View in plan of two ends of a compress it against the sleeve and intothe 95 cord or rope and connecting coupling. Fig. spaces between thevthreads, but not to cut or 2 is a View principally in vertical central injure the fibers of the strands of the cord or section thereof. Fig. 3 is a View representrope. The attaching-screw of each member ing the two members of the coupling before is accessible through its inner end, and each 5e attachment by the screw-plug. screw is screwed into the end of its piece or roo part of the cord or rope and within the part thereot` contained by the sleeve B. The members are then screwed upon the plug D, and the two ends of the cord or rope or pieces thereof are thus coupled together. To pre- Vent'the members from unscrewing from the plugD, lthere is formed in the end of one member one or more depressions f, (see Fig. 1,) into which lockingY portions F of'the other member may be forced or driven, so as to form a lock after the parts are screwed together. The members may also have one or more holes G arranged near their outer ends and opposile the hemispherical backs of the screws, through which a lubricant may be fed to the bearings and which also serve as Wrench or spanner holes.

It will be seen that the connection between the rope or eord ends and the coupling is of such a nature that the rope or cord may be easily turned in any direction from the coupling, and thus may be curved or bent to easily con form to any direction in which it may be caused to travel, and this without sacrifice of strength in the coupling and without practically enlarging the diameter of the cord or rope. i

I do not confine the invention to the form of attaching-screw shown, as any form of screw having a neck enough smaller than the hole in coupling end may be used.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. A coupling for uniting-in line with each other the ends of cords or ropes consisting of two members secured to each other and an attaching-fastener for each member, making interior connection withthe rope end and having provision for universal movement in its connection with its coupling member, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The rope or cord end coupling herein described,the same comprising cylindrical members having chambers at their outer ends with holes extending from them, attaching-screws the heads of which are contained in said chambers, the neks of which extend through the hoies and are considerably smaller than; said holes and the threads ot' which are adapted to Emake engagement with the cord orirope ends, and a coupling-plug connecting the two members, all as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of rope or cord ends, a sleeve tightly confining each end, screws screwing into said ends within the portions contained by theP sleeves and having their heads extending from said ends and shaped to form portions of coupling-bearings, with a coupling member loosely mounted uponi each screw-head to swivel thereon, anda couplingplug adapted to unite the two couplinginembers.

4. In a coupling of the character specified the two coupling members, their attachingscrews fastening into the ends of the rope and with the heads of which screws the two said corresponding members of the coupling are adapted to have universal movement, and a coupling-plug common to both of said members and adapted to rigidly secure them together.

5. In a coupling of the character specified, the two members secured together, their attaching-screws with the heads of which the members have a swiveling connection, and a hole in each member adjacent to the screwhead and giving access thereto as and for the purposes set forth.

JAMES P. TOLMAN.

In presence of- F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, SAUL SIPPERSTEIN. 

